Celiane & the Prince

Last spring, the community came together for the second season of Dearg 2 on Kickstarter. It was a powerful moment and also the campaign that gathered the most backers since our very first one in 2012! What an adventure, what a feeling of gratitude towards this wonderful community, towards you! THANK YOU!

We have just launched the pledge manager phase for the backers, which is the time when everyone can provide their details and finalize their order. The studio team worked tirelessly to review all the stock and offer plenty of rarities. Hats off to them because it was a huge task! I’ve been looking forward to this moment because I had a surprise in store for the community, crafted with the talented sculptor Roberto Chaudon. You know him for creating the first minis of Shadows of Esteren; this time, I gave him a special commission: the busts of Celiane and the Prince.

Esteren is an incredible adventure that has allowed me to meet many artists from all over the world. And these collaborations together form the soul of this project. Each artist brings their own sensitivity, their own vision.

I won’t say more, here are a few images :




Each of these busts is a limited edition of 30 copies, made of resin, approximately 50 mm in size. You’ll need to assemble and paint them. Be careful, it’s a fairly technical job!

 

These two busts are offered first to our backers, and if any remain, they’ll be available during the upcoming late pledge. I think I’ll keep a few copies for our upcoming conventions ^^ I’ll take this opportunity to share some key info and respond to a few messages we’ve received:

▶ If you missed the campaign, yes, there will be a late pledge soon. You’ll be able to pre-order Dearg season 2 and all the new releases. Sign up for the mailing list to not miss anything.
▶ Is this the end of the line? No, not at all. Dearg season 2 closes the first cycle with characters that were introduced in the core rulebook. The new cycle will focus on the Secrets.
▶ Will there be a season 3? It’s hard to say right now, but we’re not closing any doors, especially considering the success of season 2 ^^
▶ If you're a backer and looking for the link to the pledge manager, here it is: https://shadows-of-esteren-elegy.backerkit.com If you encounter any issues, feel free to send us a quick email: https://www.studio-agate.com/en/contact

That’s all for now :)

The first cycle of Shadows comes to an end, but it’s only the beginning… ;

See you on the Discord server! 

 Take care, 

Nel


Shadows of Esteren : New Releases in April 2022

Now that backers have received their packages, it's time for the new Shadows of Esteren books to hit the stores! 6 new items will be available in the stores from this Monday, April 25, 2022! Enjoy!


DARK ROMANTICISM

In this artbook, you will find what constitutes the essence of the world of Esteren through more than 200 artworks, including many yet- unpublished ones. Get ready for a new journey, diving into an intimist, sublime atmosphere... 

Amidst centennial forests and across the moors, mist spreads through the circles of stones. From their monasteries, the followers of the One turn to the almighty power of faith for solace as they fight terrifying sorcerers. In the kingdom of Reizh, the Magientists seek to reshape the society of today to pave the way for tomorrows of discoveries and progress. Everyone struggles against the mysteries of a dangerous world, populated with monstrous creatures— Feondas—and threatened by the proximity of Limbo.

Retail Price : $50


MELWAN

Intended for Game Leaders and Players, this Shadows of Esteren book Through a narrative exposition, Melwan takes you on a journey with Neala the focuses on Melwan, the vale adjacent to Dearg’s. Half-RPG supplement, half- bard as your guide. As a typical mountain vale, Melwan’s landscape is varied, made artbook, it will take you to the heart of a Tri-Kazelian land, in an atmosphere at the of cliffs, forests, and swamps dominated by an ancient castle. Travelers who stop at same time intimistic and mysterious. the village’s inn for a night or two only have the faintest idea of what is going on in the region.

This supplement includes plentiful worldbuilding material and many game aids, such as:
Tales of Fur and Feathers. Old classics of the peninsula told by bards for the delight of both children and adults, these moral or satirical tales depict animals going through stories that reflect human situations and preoccupations.
Fauna and Flora. The locals have developed many ways of gathering and fashioning food, clothes, and utilities from their environment, adapting themselves to the current season and surrounding biomes.
Concocting Potions. Gwylmith, Morphene, Searbhase, and Tearmane are some of the typical medicinal plants of Tri-Kazel. A game aid dedicated to herbalism provides several examples of therapeutic concoctions that Players can make and use.
Supply Incidents. In Tri-Kazel, a simple shopping anomaly can become the starting point of a veritable adventure.
Bestiary of Melwan. Learn more about the local fauna, and discover the powerful Mórbear and the murderous Guilthas Man—a Feond. 

Retail Price : $29,90


HAUNTED HOUSE

For years, the Reizhite medium Ysvan has traveled the roads of Tri-Kazel to find his sister. Accom- panied by his assistant, a young woman named Lelyandra, he will venture into the sinister abandoned home of the Mac Grym family. No one has dared set foot within these cursed walls since the tragic, maddening events that took place there. Yet, this is where Ysvan will go, never mind the dangers he may face and the ugly truths he may uncover. Cross the threshold of Kaer Skarden and open your senses to the unfathomable. Ysvan’s journey will take you beyond the boundaries of sanity for a hair-raising read!

Retail Prince : $14,99


SIDE PATH

“You are now only one day’s walk away from your next destination, the village of Esen. It is late spring, and the wind and rain keep you company in the heart of the woods you are progressing through. You follow signs left by Varigals, invisible or incomprehensible to untrained eyes, and at dusk, you reach a small wooden cabin where you decide to spend the night.”

Yldiane is a young Varigal who has just left her mentor to follow her own path. On her way back to her native village, she makes a halt in a shelter in the middle of the woods, unaware of what she is about to be embroiled into. What should have just been a short stop on the road becomes an adventure that will require Yldiane to shed light on ancient secrets and on a fiendish conspiracy brewing in this peaceful region of Reizh.
 
Explore the Shadows of Esteren universe through a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure interactive story. Be brave, be discerning, and most of all, be wise if you want to overcome the obstacles, mysteries, and enemies awaiting you!
 
To play, all you need is this book and something to keep notes on.

Retail Price : $19,99 

YLDIANE

Yldiane is a 16-page graphic novel that tells the story of Yldiane's return to Melwan. Yldiane is written by Emmanuel Roudier and co-written by Nel, author of Shadows of Esteren.

Retail Price : $4,99


ADELIANE

Adeliane is a music album inspired by the universes of Philip Glass, Agnes Obel, and David Darling. It is one more window to the world of Shadows of Esteren, a medieval world filled with dark romanticism, where ghastly horror and awe-inspiring beauty go hand in hand. Adeliane is one of the main characters of the Shadows of Esteren saga. A young woman crushed under the weight of a tragic past; a strong, brave young woman on a quest to shed light on the mysteries that haunt her nightmares. This album tells her story.

It is composed by François Rousselot, the composer of the OST of Mr Hublot, a short film that won the Oscar for best short animation in 2014.

Retail Price : $20
 
 

If you want to order these items, two solutions:
 
-You are a European store : contact us.

Take care!

Esteren ruleset becomes a generic game system

We are very happy to announce that the Shadows of Esteren game system will become a generic RPG system so that it can be adapted to other universes! Its working title is the "Narrative Arc System" to emphasize roleplay, emotions and the evolution of the characters, all at the service of storytelling.

We have many projects for the Narrative Arc System and we are very excited to announce one of the first in co-production with our friends from Mighty Boards: the Posthuman Saga RPG! This is going to be based on their flagship character development and narrative board game Posthuman Saga, an ongoing adventure with a very rich backstory that unfolds with every expansion.

" In Posthuman Saga you play as one of the last human survivors in a world where nature is reclaiming the planet and our mutated offspring are working to eradicate us. Just over a year ago all you wanted was to find the Fortress, the last human bastion in a region overrun by mutants. Today, you’re being sent out beyond the safety of its walls on a journey into the uncharted Wilds. There’s a dozen survivors for every mouth the Fortress can feed. It’s time to earn your place within its walls once and for all."

Quite a program, huh? Posthuman's universe, writing and artistic direction are really very inspiring! If you want to discover the Posthuman world, now is the time, because our friends have a Kickstarter in progress for their board game... it ends in a few days, don't miss it! You can check it out over here. 

And here is the complete press release about the Posthuman Saga RPG.

 



Ten Years

Ten years ago, the very first Esteren book was released in France. We had planned a nice party with our friends musicians, brewers and artists... but the current crisis prevented us from making happen this very special date of the Esteren Tour. Of course, it's only a postponement! And we will perhaps celebrate the 10 years of the English version, in 2022?

Thank you for having accompanied us during all these years. Esteren continues to live, it is also thanks to you. We will soon enter the cycle of Secrets as Dearg's cycle comes to an end. For now, we are just happy to be still here.

Take care!


Overview of the Shadows of Esteren series

Many Esteren items have remained unavailable at retail or out of stock for a long time. Since conventions have been canceled, we’ll be making available the stock that was reserved for those dates during the upcoming Kickstarter.

Several books are almost out of stock, such as Book 1 (the core rulebook) or Book 3 (the official campaign). These bundles are 50% off, so don’t hesitate!

Here is an overview of the series:

Book 0 – Prologue: This seminal book includes an overview of the universe, the essential elements of the game system, six pregenerated characters, and three adventures, which stand as spin-offs of the official campaign and introduce some of its main themes. Perfect to get started!

Book 1 – Universe: This core book details the peninsula of Tri-Kazel and contains the complete game system and character creation mechanics. It also includes six unique pregenerated characters, who are central to the Dearg campaign. It is also our most awarded book, having received ENnies for Best Art, Best Production Values, and Product of the Year. It has enjoyed several print runs, but is now unavailable at retail. Through the present Kickstarter campaign, you can order the last remaining copies!

Book 2 – Travels: A book for Game Leaders, Travels is a veritable toolbox featuring: a chapter on noteworthy locations of the peninsula, additional rules and game aids related to traveling, a detailed gallery of NPCs from across the peninsula, a collection of 5 mini-adventures, a mini-campaign titled “A Life Choice,” and a short bestiary.

Book 3 – Dearg: A complete adventure path spanning two volumes, Dearg is the official Shadows of Esteren campaign, a tragic fresco of twenty scenarios that will lead your Players to unearth terrible secrets about themselves and the world. Dearg introduces several unique mechanics, such as narrative arcs and Focuses, for the purpose of more intense sessions and more engaging role-playing. Several of the present campaign’s rewards include the first volume of this campaign, with the second one currently in the works.

The Monastery of Tuath: This book is showcases the inner working and beliefs of the Temple faction and the life of monks. At its heart is the densely packed investigation scenario “Vengeful Words.” This homage to The Name of the Rose can be played as a standalone or as part of the Dearg campaign.

Black Moon Handbook: This supplement is a guide to occultism that can be found in-game by the Player Characters. Written by the NPC Steren Slaine, it offers many game aids to play an occultist, additional rules, 5 mini-adventures on the themes of ghosts and possessions, and a small thematic bestiary.

Hauntings Pocket Book: Some of the pledges include this collection of fiction. Its 5 short stories will immerse you in Tri-Kazel’s life and will introduce you to its occult folklore.

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Learn more: Kickstarter campaign

The Demo of the Esteren Point'n'Click Game Is Now Freely Downloadable

We are making the demo of our point'n'click game, The Mac Lyrs’ Legacy, freely downloadable on DTRPG.

This PC demo (available in French and English) will let you play the game’s first chapter and experiencing its gameplay. You just need to download the .zip and launch the .exe within.

Keep in mind that this is a demo and may include bugs. If you encounter any, our apologies! In this case, please report them on our Discord. If you get stuck, you can also ask for help there! This is our first video game, so don’t be too hard on us :)

Have fun :)




About the Video Game Project

The Mac Lyrs’ Legacy is in line with classic point'n'click games such as Broken Sword or Monkey Island. It is rooted in the beginnings of the Esteren project, back in 2009, and depicts Yldiane upon her return to her native village of Melwan. The game’s events follow those of the Side Path gamebook and Yldiane comic, which are part of the Melwan project. To stay in touch with us and be informed of the launch of our next Kickstarter, subscribe to our mailing list.

We are always looking for people to help us move forward on this project or a publisher with whom to associate. Feel free to drop us a line here.

About Shadows of Esteren

Shadows of Esteren is a medieval world with horrific and gothic overtones in a dark, low fantasy setting. Drawing inspiration from Celtic myths, this universe has a subtle fantastic side hidden under a bleak, realistic surface. With the focus of its adventures being investigation and survival, Shadows of Esteren favors immersion and interaction among the players. 

Shadows of Esteren is the work of Studio Agate. It exists through various media: a tabletop role-play game, music, board games, and even video games.

Innovative and crossmedia project, Shadows of Esteren is the first French creation of its kind to have obtained a dozen of prices internationally, including four Ennie Awards at Indianapolis GenCon in 2013 and 2016. 

Adeliane is on Bandcamp

Our fourth album Adeliane is available on Bandcamp.

Adeliane is one of the mort important figure of Shadows of Esteren's universe.

You take your body on these paths
The rhythm of your heart
Of your steps


This body of pain
You walk further
Deeper within yourself


Travel these landscapes
And travel them again
What do you find on this journey


All becomes clear and so bright
As you fall asleep
And fall again


Is it the time of great changes
The time where things rise
And quietly die


Travel these landscapes
And travel them again
What do you find on this journey


The wind is blowing
Your face
Your gaze


Adeliane
Adeliane
What do you find on this journey



Credits

Composed by François Rousselot.
Performed by Clarisse May and the Budpapest Symphonic Orhestra.
 
released September 19, 2019

Production : Benjamin Torval | Mix : Marc Gueroult | Mastering : Marc Gueroult | Art : Gawain | Layout : Benjamin Torval

Meet us at UK Games Expo

For the 7th year, we will be at UK Games Expo this weekend in Birmingham. We will introduce our new book: Dearg. Please visit us at our booth 1-251 in the main hall.

Happy new year !

There we are! We have barely celebrated the eighth anniversary of Esteren and already 2019 has come!

What is there in store for this new year? Several projects of the Shadows of Esteren universe are reaching completion, such as Dearg, the official campaign, or Adeliane, the latest music album. Others are in progress, like the famous book of Secrets, the comic book, a fifth album… and many others, some of which may bring Esteren to new heights—though it is too soon to talk about it yet. 2019 promises to be a fruitful and eventful year. The adventure goes on with you, the community that has kept supporting us year after year. For that, we thank you deeply, we feel truly blessed.

 A very happy new year to all of you. If you happen to be in France in February, come see us at the Festival des Jeux de Cannes for the first date of our 2019 tour :)



Subscribe to our mailing list and be notified of the release of a new book or the launch of a new

Looking for Volunteers for UKGE 2018 & Gen Con 2018

Hello everyone,

As you may already know, there will be a Shadows of Esteren booth at UKGE 2018 in England and at Gen Con 2018 in the US, which will be run by some members of the team.
 
However, these big game conventions are a lot for a small team to handle, which is why we are going to need some extra support... a support which YOU may provide!



Running the Booth

You'll have to do what you must have all seen booth holders do: stick around, be all smiles, and be ready to provide a rundown about the universe and answer questions!

► You will remain with us at the Shadows of Esteren booth for the most part of the days. You will be given one hour or two to go around, grab a bite, chat with friends, check out other booths, etc. but we will be counting on you to stay with us most of the time.

► Since the books we've released so far will be our main products, you will be expected to have reliable knowledge about them, so that you can describe them and answer questions about them, the most important one being of course Book 1, the core book.

► What's in for you? You will be given some gift at the Shadows of Esteren booth, and you will be cordially invited to come with us at the end of the day for a few drinks and some merry chatting. You also will get a precious exhibitor badge.

And of course, once more, only offer your help if you are certain that you will be available. Not getting any help would be a bummer, but being promised help that will not come in the end would be a major pain in the butt.

That's it! If you wish to volunteer for a convention, please fill this form and we will get back to you.

For any additional information, do not hesitate to contact us; we'll do our best to provide complete and reliable answers. We hope that we'll have the pleasure of having some of you by our side!

Back from Essen SPIEL


Here we are, back from a memorable journey! This Essen SPIEL was marked by an unforgettable new concert of Adeliane, performed by 4 musicians and singer Clarisse Mây, all lit by candles, with special guest Benjamin Loomes of Syrinscape. Strong emotions...!




A big thank you to the organizers of Spiel who supported us as well as the publisher Matagot. Thank you to our volunteers and friends who participated in the booth throughout the show. You are jewels! Thanks to all our community, publisher friends and great people we met there.

See you nerxt year!


Pre-order for Shadows of Esteren: Dearg on Backerkit

Please take a second to check out our recently launched Shadows of Esteren pre-order page on BackerKit. You can pre-order the campaign DEARG, some previous books and some limited edition items with nice discounts. If you missed the Kickstarter, this is the perfect moment to join :)


Don't miss the launch of our next Kickstarter in 2018, subscribe here. 

Ticket Sales Open For Shadows of Esteren Concert at the Internationale Spieltage SPIEL - FRI 27th OCT 4PM

This October, enjoy a unique classical music concert at the International Games Event SPIEL! You can book your ticket on Ticketbud. The singer Clarisse Mây and four musicians will be performing Shadows of Esteren’s fourth album: ADELIANE. As of now, this concert is a one-time-only event in Germany.

ADELIANE is a music album inspired by the universes of Philip Glass, Agnes Obel, and David Darling. It is one more window to the universe of Shadows of Esteren, a medieval world filled with dark romanticism, where ghastly horror and awe-inspiring beauty go hand in hand. ADELIANE is composed by François Rousselot, the composer of the OST of MR HUBLOT, which won the Oscar for best short animation in 2014.

The SPIEL concert will feature special guest Benjamin Loomes, renowned composer and creator of Syrinscape, the award-winning sound app for tabletop games, who will be filing the venue with the sounds of vicious storms, vast landscapes and other moody environments.

Note that you will need to attend SPIEL to enter this concert, as it will take place in the Saal Europa room, located inside the Messe Essen convention center.

Buy your tickets for the SPIEL
Listen to the Esteren's first three albums on Bandcamp

See you there 😊🎹🎻🎤🎼


Gen Con 50

We are back from Gen Con and it was intense. We lived unforgettable moments.

Thank you to all the people who came to see us and to participate to make this edition an exceptional year! This edition was our sixth year and it is also friends that we found there: we miss you already! We fell so lucky and we are already looking forward to next Gen Con. Our next conventions abroad will be the Spiel in Essen, Germany and Dragonmeet in London, UK.





Back from UK Games Expo

Such great memories, thank you everyone for your goodness, all the members of our community, so supportive and kind. Thanks so much to our volunteers for their generosity. There are not all here on this picture but we do not forget : Keith, Gary, Rob, thank you so much. Those moments mean so much. 

Thanks also to the UKGE and Syrinscape crews. And of course many thanks to our composer François and all the musicians who made the live concert Adeliane happen ! We will never forget this unique evening.

We miss you all already and we will see you in Bimringham next year !

The Esteren crew for UK Games Expo 2017 - Photo by Clovis M

A Brand New Portal For Shadows of Esteren's Website

After years of loyal service, the Shadows of Esteren portal is due for an overhaul! You can find the new version here. Developed by Pierstoval, the creator of Esteren maps, and co-designed with Nelyhann, the portal’s characteristics are as follows:

- Those used to the old version will be in familiar territory. This portal is organized like the previous one, with links to the various aspects of our transmedia project.

 - By registering on the website. You can use the Esteren maps online software, a Google maps-like application for the peninsula of Tri-Kazel.

 - We are still working on an online shop, but it will come. Promise! - You can listen to Esteren’s OSTs on Soundcloud, download Book 0 directly, and access many other handy subjects and features.

Enjoy and feel free to give us your feedback :)

The link to the new portal: https://portal.esteren.org/en/

Adeliane : Our New Kickstarter is Live!

Today is the start of a new Kickstarter campaign, a small one that will last a dozen days. Yep, just like that, without warning!
Its core purpose will be to complete the production of the upcoming music album, Adeliane, and to offer you a physical CD version, as well as a limited edition vinyl one for music fans. Instead of making Adeliane available as a preorder via Backerkit, we have chosen to make this quick Kickstarter campaign in order to get the news out.. The artists involved have been working on it for several months, and it would be a shame for their efforts to go unnoticed!

In that regard, tickets for two concerts are also available through this campaign: one in England, in June, and one in Germany, in October. We hope to see many of you there! In addition, you can also preorder a limited edition of the graphic novel Yldiane, which is ready to be printed. Last but not least, this Kickstarter includes a new book, halfway between an artbook and a role-playing game sourcebook that we have been thinking about for some time: Melwan.

Concerning this book:

The Shadows of Esteren series includes several supplements (The Monastery of Tuath, The Black Moon Handbook, Occultism…) that explore specific aspects of its universe. Melwan’s focus is the eponymous vale from which Adeliane and her sister Yldiane hail. This hardcover artbook of about 60 pages is written from the perspective of an in-universe character, just like how the Black Moon Handbook was written by Steren Slaine. Here, the author is Neala, a shepherdess and Caernide breeder from Melwan. She talks about Yldiane (through a CYOA-like story), describes Melwan and the surrounding vale (which takes the shape of a game aid dedicated to the region’s noteworthy locations, personalities, and flora), and covers the local fauna, as well as more unusual creatures (in the form of a bestiary).

Find out more at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/agate/adeliane-album-and-tour

Meanwhile, we are still working on Dearg; Volume 1 is almost complete!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your staunch support. With your help, we can keep going further and, year after year, go on with giving our all and making this series the best it can be.

Suspense and Tragedy in RPG

The english translation for the first part of Dearg, Shadows of Esteren’s official campaign is over. This first part will include some game aids and inserts with advice concerning how to handle the system of narrative arcs and Focuses, which is introduced and used in Dearg. This system was detailed in a previous post. Here is a sneak peek at one of these new game aids:

Suspense and Tragedy

The motor of a typical role-playing session is suspense: as they progress through the story, the Players remain unsure of what will happen next, anticipating plot twists and looking out for danger. Just like spectators following a movie, they are eager to know what will come next and fear for their Characters.

With the aforementioned introductory Focuses, things are different. Since these scenarios explore the PCs past, they tell a story that is already part of the Characters’ backgrounds and therefore cannot be changed. For example, in Eoghan’s Focus, Mael will die, no matter what the PCs do. This also applies to Finn’s, Adeliane’s, and Joris’s stories: Players who have read Book 1 – Universe will already be aware of decisive elements of their backstories.

As such, suspense cannot be the story’s motor or the source of the Players’ interest. Instead, the introductory Focuses draw from a different genre: tragedy. Since the Players may already know what their Characters are in for, what matters is not what is going to happen, but how. Experiencing the story becomes more important than the story itself or its conclusion. As a result, the Players and Leader can focus on the Characters, their feelings, and their development.

Marco Garro | Le Supplici di Euripide
Liceo Cagnazzi di Altamura - Festival del Teatro Classico dei Giovani 



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You can subscribe to this ML to receive an update when will launch our Backerkit for Dearg: http://eepurl.com/_OC3L

Looking for a female singer for the album Adeliane

We are currently looking for a female singer for our next original soundtrack: Adeliane.

This upcoming album will be entirely composed by François Rousselot, the man behind the orchestral arrangement of Dearg, but also the original soundtrack for Mr Hublot, winner of the Oscar for best animated short film in 2014. Adeliane is inspired from the universes of Philip Glass, Agnès Obel, and David Darling.

This new album will contain a dozen tracks, at least four of which will require a singer. Here are two digital samples (which are not intended to include sung parts) that are far from the intended final result, but will give you an idea of the album’s mood:



We plan to organize several live sessions in 2017 and 2018, including June 3rd 2017 in Birmingham, England and October 27th 2017 in Essen, Germany. Two other dates are planned in France (in mid-October 2017 and November 2017)

Whether your style is similar to Dead Can Dance, London Grammar, is gospel-like, or lyrical, you can send us demos or videos at this address.

All profiles are accepted, from beginners to professionals. Payment is negotiable. Please tell us the country and and area where you live.

If you want to listen to the three albums we have released so far, you can visit our Bandcamp page



Esteren music albums on Bandcamp

You can listen and buy our music albums on Bandcamp : https://esteren.bandcamp.com/ 

Enjoy :D

https://esteren.bandcamp.com/